PLOS ONE Medicine&Health

Sugar-sweetened beverage/snack consumption and its determinants among infant and young children aged 6–23 months in twelve Sub-Saharan African countries: Evidence from 2019–2023 Demographic Health Survey data

by Birtukan Gizachew Ayal, Abebe Kassa Geto, Sefineh Fenta Feleke, Ali Yimer, Atitegeb Abera Kidie, Natnael Amare Tesfa, Esuyawkal Mislu, Molla Hailu, Hassen Ahmed Yesuf

Background

Sugar-sweetened beverages or snacks are limited in nutritional value. Excess consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages or snacks in early childhood is associated with inadequate micronutrient intake, being overweight or obese, and developing chronic diseases later in life. There is scarcity of information specific to sugar-sweetened beverages or snacks consumption prevalence and its determinants in Sub-Saharan Africa Countries. This study aimed to determine the pooled prevalence of sugar-sweetened beverage or snack consumption and its determinants among infants and young children aged 6–23 months.

Methods

A cross-sectional study design was conducted using demographic and health survey data conducted from 2019 to 2023 from twelve Sub-Saharan African countries. A weighted sample of 23,145 children aged 6–23 months was included in the study. Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with the dependent variable. The level of statistical significance was declared with a p-value  Results

The pooled prevalence of Sugar-sweetened beverage or snack consumption was 25.40% (95% CI: 24.84% − 25.96%). In multilevel multivariable logistic regression analysis, children aged between 9−11(AOR = 1.95 95% CI: 1.62, 2.35), 12–17(AOR = 2.83; 95% CI: 2.26, 3.54), and 18−23 months (AOR = 3.77;95% CI: 3.07, 4.63), media exposure (AOR = 1.59; 95% CI:1.28, 1.98), children from households with middle (AOR = 1.39; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.73) and rich (AOR = 2.31; 95% CI: 1.87, 2.85) wealth status, post natal checkup (AOR = 1.18; 95%CI:1.05,1.33), maternal ANC visit (AOR = 1.60; 95% CI: 1.15, 2.22), and high community media exposure ((AOR = 2.22;95%CI:1.65,5.81) were positively associated significant factors whereas currently breast feeding children (AOR = 0.70; 95% CI: 0.59,0.82), older age at first birth (AOR = 0.88,95% CI: 0.81, 0.96), presences of more than one under-5 children in the household (AOR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.80, 0.99), mothers don’t perceive distance to health facility as big problem (AOR = 0.86; 95% CI:0.76, 0.98), and children reside in rural (AOR = 0.83;95%CI:0.68,0.95) were negatively associated with sugar sweetened beverage or snack consumption.

Conclusion

In this study, one out of four children consumed sugar-sweetened beverages or snacks. Current age of child, current breastfeeding status of child, media exposure, wealth index, maternal age at first birth, post natal checkup, maternal ANC visit, number of under-five children in the household, distance to health facility, place of residence, and community level media exposure were significant factors with sugar-sweetened beverage or snack consumption. Therefore, it is recommended to raise awareness about the health risks of sugar-sweetened beverage and snack consumption, enforce restrictions on their advertisement, strengthen nutrition-focused counseling within maternal and child health services with special attention for older age children, promote breastfeeding, and give special attention to challenges related to health facility accessibility, and support for young mothers.

PLOS ONE Medicine&Health

Healthcare waste management practices and associated factors among healthcare workers in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis

by Gete Berihun, Zebader Walle, Belay Desye, Chala Daba, Abebe Kassa Geto, Lake Kumlachew, Leykun Berhanu

Introduction

Inadequate management of healthcare waste present significant health hazards to healthcare workers, patients, waste handlers, and the whole communities, especially in developing countries. Although various primary studies have been conducted in different countries across the continent, there has been no comprehensive research examining healthcare waste management practices in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Objective

This review aimed to assess healthcare waste management practices and associated factors among healthcare workers in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods and materials

This systematic review and meta-analysis were performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA 20) guidelines. PubMed, Science-Direct, Google Scholar, Hinari, and Google databases were used to find essential literature. The extracted data were analyzed using statistical software, STATA version 14. Publication bias was assessed using the Egger test and funnel plot, whereas heterogeneity was assessed using the I² statistic.

Results

This review include 29 studies comprising 7588 participants. The pooled estimate of good healthcare waste management practices among participants was 49.74% (95% CI: 43.73–55.76) (I² = 96.8%, P 2 = 0.00%, P 2 = 97.9%, P 2 = 96.8%, P  Conclusions

This review showed that only half of the healthcare workers practiced good healthcare waste management practices. Sex of the healthcare workers, training status, use of working manuals/guidelines, knowledge towards healthcare waste management, and their daily working hours were factors significantly associated with healthcare waste management practices among healthcare workers. Hence, respective healthcare authorities should develop and implement different healthcare waste management strategies, including ongoing in-service training, provision of healthcare waste management manuals, and conducting regular monitoring to enhance healthcare workers’ knowledge and practices towards healthcare waste management practices.